Biomedical subjects

H Iso

Publications and source records attributed to H Iso.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Recovery of visual behaviors in adult hamsters with the peripheral nerve graft to the sectioned optic nerve.

In adult hamsters, the autologous peripheral nerve (PN) was grafted to the sectioned optic nerve to make a bridge to the superior colliculus (SC). Three behavioral tasks were used to test functional recovery of the restored retinocollicular pathway. First, change of spontaneous ambulating activity to a decrease in environmental luminance was examined in an open field. PN-grafted hamsters showed a significant increase to 186% in ambulating activity just after light off, though it was lower than that in normal hamsters (489%). Second, a classical conditioning of total body movements was tested using an increase in luminance as a conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with foot shocks. In normal hamsters the magnitude of movements during CS increased in the acquisition period and then decreased in the extinction period in both the second and the third sessions, while the magnitude remained unchanged in a blind control. PN-grafted hamsters showed an increase in the magnitude only in the third session, although it was statistically barely significant (P = 0.0619). Following section of the grafted nerve, the conditioned response disappeared completely. And third, a shuttle-box avoidance task was examined using a flickering light as CS. Normal hamsters showed improved avoidance scores, while blind controls did not. PN-grafted hamsters showed a slight increase in the score, which was similar to that in the one-eyed control. Anterogradely transported labeling of WGA-HRP, injected into the vitreous body of the grafted eye, was observed in the graft and the superficial layers of SC. These results confirm and extend our previous finding that PN-grafted hamsters can restore some visual function and further suggest that the extent of recovered visual function is as good as in one-eyed animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Trends of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Japan: implications for primordial prevention.

We have documented a 70% fall in stroke mortality and a 20% decline in coronary disease (CHD) mortality over the past 30 years in Japan. This parallels a change away from the traditional Japanese eating pattern, with less salt and more meat and dairy products, and decreased rates of smoking. A recent increase in CHD rates among urban Japanese men raises the need for vigorous primordial prevention efforts to avoid elevated blood lipids in modern Japanese populations, while primary prevention efforts must continue for the prevention of hypertension and smoking.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed1999

Reinforcement enhances hippocampal acetylcholine release in rats: an in vivo microdialysis study.

Rats were trained to press a lever under a 'Multiple FI-60s and Extinction' schedule with food reinforcements. After learning the task, an in vivo microdialysis probe was inserted into the dentate gyrus and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, and the sequential changes in the dialysate acetylcholine (ACh) concentration were analyzed. In the session, two fixed-interval of reinforcement (FI) components (for 20 min) and two extinction (EXT) components (for 30 min) were alternated to examine the correlation between behavioral and neurochemical outcomes. The dialysate ACh concentration increased during the FI component and returned to the baseline during the EXT component of the schedule. Next, in order to dissociate the effect of discrimination from the effect of rewarding on the neurochemical changes in the hippocampus, we used a final TEST period (for 20 min) during which the actual schedule was extinction but the discriminative stimulus was on, i.e. the manifest condition of the test period was reinforcement. In the TEST period, the animals pressed the lever with almost the same frequency as during the FI component; however, the dialysate ACh concentration did not increase above the baseline concentration. These results suggest that ACh release in the rat hippocampus is associated with reinforcement but not with discrimination in operant conditioning.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1999

Prospective study of aspirin use and risk of stroke in women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In secondary prevention, aspirin reduces risk of ischemic stroke. In primary prevention of stroke, however, the role of aspirin is uncertain, especially in women. METHODS: In 1980, 79 319 women in the Nurses' Health Study cohort, 34 to 59 years of age and free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis, completed questionnaires that included information on aspirin use. Data on aspirin use were updated in 1982, 1984, and 1988. By 1994, after 994 231 person-years of follow-up, 503 incident strokes (295 ischemic strokes, 100 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 52 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, and 56 strokes of undetermined type) were documented. RESULTS: There was no clear relationship between aspirin use and risk of total stroke; risk was slightly reduced among women who took 1 to 6 aspirin per week and slightly increased among women who took 7 or more aspirin per week. Women who took 1 to 6 aspirin per week had a lower risk of large-artery occlusive infarction compared with women who reported no aspirin use; after simultaneous adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors and selected nutrients, the multivariate relative risk was 0.50 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.85, P=0.01). Women who took 15 or more aspirin per week had an excess risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage; the multivariate relative risk was 2.02 (95% CI 1.04 to 3.91, P for trend=0.02). The reduction in large-artery occlusive infarction with aspirin was of greater magnitude for older, hypertensive, or smoking women than for younger, nonhypertensive, or nonsmoking women; the elevation in subarachnoid hemorrhage with aspirin was also more apparent for older or hypertensive women than for younger or nonhypertensive women. Aspirin use was not associated with risk of other subtypes of stroke. CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data indicate that women who take 1 to 6 aspirin per week have a reduced risk of large-artery occlusive infarction, but those who use 15 or more aspirin per week have an increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. This observational study suggests benefits of aspirin for ischemic stroke with low frequency of use and hazards for hemorrhagic stroke with high frequency of use, particularly among older or hypertensive women. Thus, the effect on total stroke will depend on the dose of aspirin and the distribution of stroke subtypes and risk factors in the population.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Prospective study of calcium, potassium, and magnesium intake and risk of stroke in women.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: High intakes of calcium, potassium, and magnesium have been hypothesized to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, but only a few prospective studies have examined intakes of these cations in relation to risk of stroke. METHODS: In 1980, 85 764 women in the Nurses' Health Study cohort, aged 34 to 59 years and free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease and cancer, completed dietary questionnaires from which we calculated intakes of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. By 1994, after 1.16 million person-years of follow-up, 690 incident strokes (129 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 74 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, 386 ischemic strokes, and 101 strokes of undetermined type) had been documented. RESULTS: Intakes of calcium, potassium, and magnesium were each inversely associated with age- and smoking-adjusted relative risks of ischemic stroke, excluding embolic infarction of nonatherogenic origin (n=347). Adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, including history of hypertension, attenuated these associations, particularly for magnesium intake. In a multivariate analysis, women in the highest quintile of calcium intake had an adjusted relative risk of ischemic stroke of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.50 to 0.95; P for trend=0.03) compared with those in the lowest quintile; for potassium intake the corresponding relative risk was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.51 to 1.01; P for trend=0.10). Further simultaneous adjustment for calcium and potassium intake suggested an independent association for calcium intake. The association of risk with calcium intake did not appear to be log linear; the increase in risk was limited to the lowest quintile of intake, and intakes > approximately 600 mg/d did not appear to reduce risk of stroke further. The inverse association with calcium intake was stronger for dairy than for nondairy calcium intake. Intakes of calcium, potassium, and magnesium were not related to risk of other stroke subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Low calcium intake, and perhaps low potassium intake, may contribute to increased risk of ischemic stroke in middle-aged American women. It remains possible that women in the lowest quintile of calcium intake had unknown characteristics that made them susceptible to ischemic stroke.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Cohort study on risk factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage among Japanese men and women].

PURPOSE: To examine the risk factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage, for few prospective data have been available on risk factors of subarachnoid hemorrhage among Japanese. METHODS: A 9.4-year cohort study was conducted on 12,372 men and women, aged 40-69 years, free of history of stroke in six communities in Japan. RESULTS: During the follow-up, seventy-one incidents of subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred. After adjusting for age, serum total cholesterol, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, blood pressure category and drinking category, current smokers had a significantly increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with 'never-smokers': multivariate relative risk (RR) [95% confidence interval (95% CI)] = 3.1(1.4-6.9) for women, 1.5(0.4-5.3) for men and 2.7(1.3-5.5)for men and women. Hypertensives had a significantly increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with normotensives: multivariate RR(95% CI) = 3.1(1.6-6.0) for women, 4.3(1.5-12.0) for men and 3.4(2.0-5.9) for men and women. For men, heavy drinkers (> = 69 g per day ethanol), had a significantly increased risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with 'never-drinkers': multivariate RR(95% CI) = 4.3(1.1-16.8). For women, the relationship between heavy drinking and risk was not examined due to the small number of heavy drinkers (n = 13). Multivariate RR(95% CI) for men who smoked currently and drank heavily compared with men who did not smoke currently nor drink heavily was 6.0(1.8-20.1). Multivariate RR(95% CI) for hypertensive men who drank heavily compared with normotensive or borderline hypertensive men who did not drink heavily was 13.0(3.9-43.9). Multivariate RR(95% CI) for hypertensive men and women who smoked currently compared with normotensive or borderline hypertensive men and women who did not smoke currently was 6.1(1.3-28.7) for men and 6.3(1.4-28.0) for women. Furthermore, the combination of smoking, hypertension and heavy drinking raised the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage substantially: multivariate RR(95% CI) = 17.5(3.4-90.2). CONCLUSION: Smoking and hypertension appeared to increase the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. For men, although the association of smoking with the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage was weak compared with women, the combination of smoking, hypertension and heavy drinking increased the risk substantially. For women, smoking appeared to be an independent risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the combination of smoking and hypertension increased the risk in additive fashion.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[The effects of fish supplementation of platelet function, count and metabolism in healthy Japanese].

To investigate changes in platelet function, count and metabolism following fish intake among Japanese, we conducted an experimental intervention study of seven healthy Japanese volunteers (4 males and 3 females) aged 28-58 years. We supplemented their diets with an approximate daily intake of 200-400 g fish which is equivalent to about 10 g n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 3.5 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 5.0 g docosahexaenoic acid) during the 17 days. The study continued until the 23rd day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The proportion of serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acids increased two-fold on 5th day and three-fold on 15th day of fish supplementation, but decreased to one and a half-fold on the 2nd day and returned to the level before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The proportion of serum n6-polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased by 17% to the level before fish supplementation on the 5th day, 33% on the 15th day of fish supplementation. However, the decrease was only 10% on the 2nd day and the proportion returned to the same level as before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. As a result, the serum n3/n6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio increased four-fold on the 15th day of fish supplementation, and returned to the baseline level on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. Platelet counts decreased and the mean platelet volume increased during fish supplementation. Both parameters returned to the level before fish supplementation on the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The counts and proportion of large type platelets increased significantly during fish supplementation. Although platelet aggregation by ADP (adenosine 5'-diphosphate) did not change significantly, platelet aggregation by collagen tended to decrease during fish supplementation. Platelet factor 4, one of the indices of platelet activity, decreased significantly during fish supplementation. The mean serum triglyceride level declined during fish supplementation, but returned to the level just before fish supplementation on the 2nd day after returning to an ad libitum diet. The mean plasma fibrinogen level tended to decline during fish supplementation and remained lower until the 12th day after returning to an ad libitum diet. Habitual fish intake may attenuate the development of atherosclerosis and prevent ischemic heart disease through suppression of platelet activity, and by reducing platelet counts and serum triglyceride levels.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Rats' behavior in the course of aversive conditioning measured by a stabilimeter].

Aversive behaviors of rats to the conditioned stimulus in the course of classical conditioning of a light (CS) and electric-shock (US) were analyzed using a stabilimeter. For the Classical Conditioning (CC) group (n = 5), CS was preceded 5 s to US (l s) using delayed conditioning procedure in the 3 daily sessions each of which was consisted of 30 reinforcing trials. For the US group (n = 5), US (l s) was presented at the same time as CC group without any CS. The results showed that the activity of the CC group during CS increased as the trials progressed, but it was not changed in the US group. Thus, animals made various kinds of activities during the CS, and these were not reflexes to the presentation of the CS but were responses that have long latencies.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Changes in 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium in a community-based heath education program on salt reduction].

PURPOSE: To examine changes in urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and sodium/potassium ratio in a community-based health education program on salt reduction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The surveyed community was Kyowa town (census population in 1985 = 16,792) where we have conducted a community-based blood pressure control program since 1981 and health education on reduction of salt intake since 1983 for primary prevention of hypertension. A 24-hour urine collection was conducted for systematically selected samples of the participants aged 40-69 in cardiovascular risk surveys in 1982-86 (early period) and in 1990-94 (later period) to estimate changes in urine excretion of sodium, potassium, and sodium/potassium ratio. RESULTS: A 24-hour urine collection was available for 565 persons (410 men and 155 women) in 1982-86 and 1,461 persons (571 men and 890 women) in 1990-94. A decline in mean sodium excretion was larger in ages 40-49 than in other age groups, and for ages 40-69 combined, the decline was 0.9-1.1 g per day for men and women. Mean sodium excretion declined to 10 g or less per day for men and women aged 60-69. Mean potassium excretion did not change except for men aged 60-69 with an increase in potassium. Sodium/potassium ratio tended to decline for women aged 40-49, and declined significantly for other sex-age groups. A larger reduction in sodium excretion was seen among persons with a history of hypertension compared to those without it. CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction in urinary excretion of sodium and sodium/potassium ratio was observed in a community-based health education program. Men and women aged 60-69 reached a recommended level of 10 g or less in sodium intake.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Prepulse facilitation of auditory startle response in hamsters.

A visual prepulse was applied just before a burst of white noise with various lead intervals ranging from 50 to 400 ms in hamsters. After habituation each hamster received 120 trials of the auditory noise with or without the prepulse. Amplitude of startle response increased significantly at 100 ms and 200 ms (n = 10). This enhancement disappeared in blind controls (n = 6). The amplitude of startle response decreased during exploratory behavior, grooming, sniffing or other movements. However, the facilitatory effects of the visual prepulse were consistent, regardless of the animal's behavioral states, except sniffing. The authors conclude that visual prepulse task is useful for studying the ability to detect visual signals in hamsters, and that further study is necessary to elucidate the factors affecting the enhancement of startle response in hamsters.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed1998

Alcohol intake and premature coronary heart disease in urban Japanese men.

To examine the relation between alcohol intake and the incidence of coronary heart disease among Japanese, the authors analyzed data from a prospective study of 8,476 Japanese male employees, who were 40-59 years old at baseline (between 1975 and 1984) and worked for 13 urban companies in Osaka, Japan. These men were followed until the end of 1993, on average, an 8.8-year follow-up. Eighty-three coronary heart disease events (54 myocardial infarction, 32 angina pectoris) occurred during the employment period under study. Compared with the risk of coronary heart disease for never drinkers, the age-adjusted relative risk for those with an increased ethanol intake was lower, but the risk did not appear to be reduced further with the intake of > or = 69 g of ethanol per day. The multivariate relative risk adjusted for age, serum total cholesterol, cigarette smoking, body mass index, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a history of diabetes mellitus was 0.83 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24-2.86) in exdrinkers, 0.69 (95% CI 0.37-1.29) in drinkers of 1-22 g/day of ethanol, 0.55 (95% CI 0.29-1.05) in drinkers of 23-45 g/day, 0.41 (95% CI 0.19-0.88) in drinkers of 46-68 g/day, and 0.59 (95% CI 0.23-1.51) in drinkers of > or = 69 g/day. The inverse association with alcohol intake was similar between myocardial infarction and angina pectoris. Alcohol intake seemed to prevent the premature incidence of coronary heart disease among urban Japanese middle-aged men.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Effects of a long-term hypertension control program on stroke incidence and prevalence in a rural community in northeastern Japan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of antihypertensive treatment in preventing stroke, the effectiveness of community-based programs is largely unknown. We investigated long-term community-based prevention activities. METHODS: In rural northeastern Japan, people aged > or = 30 years numbered 3219 in the full intervention community and 1468 in the minimal intervention community in 1965. Systematic blood pressure screening and health education began in 1963. Stroke was registered through 1987. RESULTS: More than 80% of people aged 40 to 69 years were screened in both communities in the 1960s. One community charged for screening services after 1968, whereas the other community intensified intervention; subsequently, screening rates and the follow-up of hypertensive individuals declined in the minimal intervention community, especially in men. In men, stroke incidence declined more (P < 0.001) in the full intervention (42% in the period 1970 to 1975, 53% in the period 1976 to 1981, and 75% in the period 1982 to 1987) than in the minimal intervention community (5% increase, 20% decrease, and 29% decrease, respectively); in women, the stroke incidence declined about 45% to 65% in both communities. Changes in stroke prevalence paralleled those in stroke incidence. Trends in systolic blood pressure levels tend to explain the differential stroke rates in men. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of hypertension control services through intensive, free, community-wide screening and health education was effective in prevention of stroke for men in a community.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[The relation between platelet aggregation and constitutional and lifestyle variables in two Japanese communities].

To investigate the contribution of the platelet aggregation in the development of cardiovascular diseases, we examined the relation of constitutional and lifestyle variables with platelet aggregation for a total of 306 males aged 50 to 70 in Ikawa town, Akita prefecture (n = 163) and Noichi town, Kochi prefecture (n = 143). The examination of platelet aggregation was completed within 3 hours of obtaining blood samples. We used ADP (Adenosine 5'-diphosphate) as an agonist and obtained PATI (the platelet aggregatory threshold index) by nephelometry. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, white blood cell count, serum fatty acid compositions were also examined and dietary intake of fish, seafood and soy bean foods were inquired using one-week dietary records. PATI indicated a logarithmic normal distribution in both Ikawa and Noichi. The mean of logarithmic transformed PATI (log PATI) was higher in Ikawa than in Noichi. Thus platelet aggregation was lower in Ikawa than in Noichi. According to multiple regression analysis, age, platelet count in platelet rich plasma, mean platelet volume in platelet rich plasma, and white blood cell count were inversely associated with log PATI. Serum arachidonic acid composition tended to be inversely related with log PATI. Serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid composition was positively related with log PATI, and log gamma-GTP tended to be positively associated with log PATI. Soy protein intake and cigarette smoking showed no consistent associations with log PATI. This cross-sectional study suggests that serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid, and gamma-GTP, as an index of alcohol intake, reduce platelet aggregation while age, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean platelet volume, and serum arachidonic acid raise platelet aggregation.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1998

[Survival and disability in stroke by stroke subtype based on computed tomographic findings in three rural Japanese communities].

PURPOSE: We conducted an epidemiological study of survival and disability in stroke in three Japanese communities to seek community strategies for improvement in survival and disability. METHODS: A total of 297 first-ever strokes were identified between 1988 and 1992 in three rural communities (total population = 47,000) located in Akita and Ibaraki. We analyzed survival rates and activity of daily living by sex, age-group and stroke subtypes. Successful review of computed tomography (CT) for 84 percent of the strokes (249 out of 297) was possible and the data were used for subtype analyses. RESULTS: For all strokes (n = 297) survival rates were 85% for 30 day, 70% for one year, 62% for three year. The rates tended to be lower in women than in men. The rates were lowest in ages less than 60 at thirty day, and in ages 80 and older at the end of the first and third year. Intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, subarachnoid hemorrhage and cortical cerebral infarction had lower survival rates than intracerebral hemorrhage without ventricular rupture and lacunar infarction. Based on Cox's proportional hazard model, risk ratio for death was 2.07 in ages 70-79, and 3.80 in ages 80 and older compared with ages 60-69. The risk ratio was 3.46 for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, 3.38 for subarachnoid hemorrhage and 2.46 for cortical cerebral infarction compared with lacunar infarction. The proportion of stroke survivors who need assistance from others in the first and third years tended to be higher in women than in men. The proportion was higher in older patients than in the younger, and higher for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture and cortical cerebral infarction than in other subtypes of stroke. From logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio for disability in the first year was 6.55 for ages 80 and older compared with ages 60-69. The odds ratio was 5.61 for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture, 4.53 for cortical cerebral infarction compared with lacunar infarction. In the third year the odds ratio was significant for ages 70-79, and decreased for intracerebral hemorrhage with ventricular rupture (odds ratio = 2.98), and increased for cortical cerebral infarction (odds ratio = 6.06). CONCLUSIONS: Survival and disability in stroke depended on age and stroke subtypes. Even after age adjustment, stroke subtypes with large cerebral involvement had worse prognosis than stroke subtypes. Community-based hypertension control programs are important to prevent any subtypes of stroke. Stroke subtypes as well as age should be taken into account to develop effective care and medical treatments for strokes.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1997

Effects of oxidative stress on the expression of limbic-specific protease neuropsin and avoidance learning in mice.

We evaluated the effects of oxidative stress in mouse brain induced by the intraperitoneal injection of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) on gene expression of the novel serine protease, neuropsin, and on shock-avoidance learning. The level of neuropsin mRNA in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons increased at 2 h after DDC treatment and decreased thereafter. At 7 days neuropsin mRNA significantly decreased to 60% of the pretreated control level and then returned to the control level at 30 days. Genes for tissue plasminogen activator, manganese superoxide dismutase, and heat shock protein did not differ in DDC-treated mice vs. the control group at 7 and 30 days. The shuttle-box avoidance learning was retarded at 7 days after DDC administration. However, it recovered to the control level at 30 days after DDC administration. The results suggest that generation of reactive oxygen species has an important role in neuropsin transcript in the limbic areas which might be related to the disturbance in avoidance learning.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Serum sialic acid and its correlates in community samples from Akita, Japan and Minneapolis, USA.

OBJECTIVE: The concentration of serum total sialic acid (S-TSA) is one recently investigated risk marker for cardiovascular mortality and atherosclerosis. Since the mortality from coronary heart disease is higher in the United States than in Japan, one could expect the S-TSA to be higher among Caucasian US citizens than among Japanese citizens, a hypothesis that is tested in this study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of population-based samples of Japanese and US Caucasian men and women. SETTING: The rural community Akita, Japan, and the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota. SUBJECTS: These were 75 consecutive men and women from Akita and Minneapolis respectively aged 47-69 years in 1990. People who had smoked cigarettes during the past 5 years; who had a history of diabetes mellitus, liver disease, coronary heart disease, or stroke; or who were taking anticoagulants were excluded. OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum total sialic acid levels in male and female Japanese and US Caucasian subjects with adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, fibrinogen, triglycerides and in women also for menopausal status. Race and sex-specific correlations with serum total sialic acid for selected cardiovascular risk markers. RESULTS: The entire sialic acid distributions were shifted to the right in Caucasian men and women compared to Japanese men and women. The mean +/- standard deviation concentrations of S-TSA were 54.1 +/- 5.3 mg/dl in Japanese men and 58.7 +/- 5.6 mg/dl in Caucasian men (P < 0.001). In women, the concentrations were 54.8 +/- 5.1 and 63.1 +/- 6.0 mg/dl respectively (P < 0.001). S-TSA level correlated significantly and positively with fibrinogen levels in Caucasian and Japanese men and women and with triglyceride levels in Caucasian and Japanese men and in Caucasian women but not in Japanese women. After adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure, fibrinogen, triglycerides and menopausal status, the sialic acid levels were 2.2 (P = 0.009) and 6.2 (P < 0.001) mg/dl higher in Caucasian compared to Japanese men and women respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Higher S-TSA levels in Caucasians living in Minneapolis compared to Japanese living in Akita, Japan is in concordance with the higher cardiovascular mortality in the US. Differences in S-TSA levels may reflect international differences in the prevalence of atherosclerosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

[Effectiveness of a health education class to increase fish intake evaluated by serum fatty acid compositions].

For prevention of cardiovascular disease, we recommended increased fish intake for 50 middle-aged women and men of 40-83 years old at a three-month community-based health education program in an inland farming community. The effectiveness of the education program was evaluated by examining changes in serum lipids and serum fatty acid compositions. For comparison, we selected 48 men and women of 38-82 years old did not participated in the program. Before education, there was no significant difference in the dietary frequency of fish, meat, egg and dishes prepared with oil, mean values of serum lipids or serum fatty acid compositions except for saturated fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. After three months, the frequency of fish intake of one or more times per day increased from 33% to 43% in the education group while the frequency of fish intake did not change in the control group. In the education group, serum n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid composition increased from 8.8% to 10.6%. This fatty acid increase was primarily observed in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. The n3/n6 ratio increased from 0.21 to 0.31. In the control group, no change was observed in n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study suggests that the community-based dietary education increased fish intake and serum n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in women and men of 40 years old or older.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Passive smoking and plasma fibrinogen concentrations.

To examine the effect of passive smoking on plasma fibrinogen, a coronary risk factor, a cross-sectional study was conducted between 1990 and 1993 for 1,780 Japanese women aged 45-74 years who resided in Kyowa town, Ibaraki-ken, Japan. Fibrinogen concentrations controlling for age, body mass index, ethanol intake, serum total cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, and menopausal status were 8.6 (95% confidence interval 1.6-15.6) mg/dl higher in women exposed passively to smoking outside the home (n = 435) and 11.2 (95% confidence interval 3.0-19.3) mg/dl higher in women exposed both in and outside the home (n = 272) than in women unexposed in either location (n = 524). These effects of passive smoking were about 40-60% of that of current active smoking. An effect of passive smoking at home only was small and not statistically significant. The association between fibrinogen and passive smoking was primarily observed in women aged 45-59 years but not in those aged 60-74 years. Passive smoking may raise the risk of coronary heart disease partly by increasing plasma fibrinogen concentrations.

Aged↗